Buying Options

Why we love it: Finding an affordable all-cotton set of twin XL sheets is hard, and Bed Bath & Beyond’s Heartland HomeGrown 400-Thread-Count Solid Sateen Sheet Set—the direct successor to our former Wamsutta pick—is the best value we’ve tested. We found these sheets to be surprisingly comparable to sets we’ve tested over the years that cost three times as much. They felt lighter in weight than other twin XL sheets and draped nicely on the bed. In fact, I was so impressed with the feel of these sheets during our tests that I plan to replace my own guest bedding with them.

They’re also especially well-constructed. The elastic on the fitted sheet was sturdy, and the stitching was solid, with no loose threads. They barely shrank in our wash, and we think they’ll hold up perfectly well to hot washes (the best way to get rid of spills, sweat, and other stains). They come in eight solid colors, they stay reliably in stock, and you can buy them for even less if you use one of Bed Bath & Beyond’s frequent coupons.

The 100 percent cotton Heartland HomeGrown sheets felt as soft and smooth as much pricier sheets, and they draped beautifully on our bed. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

We didn’t see any loose threads on the Heartland sheets, and they had sturdy stitching; they barely shrank in the dryer, too. We think they’ll be durable. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

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Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Heartland HomeGrown sheets wrinkled more readily than the cotton-poly blended set we tested from Kohl’s (some owner reviews also complain about their tendency to wrinkle), but we think a little wrinkling is a small price to pay for the comfort and breathability of 100 percent cotton. As a sateen set, these sheets feel smoother but less crisp than percale, so keep that in mind if you prefer crisp bedding. Finally, the colors are a bit muted, and there aren’t any printed or patterned options. But we have other picks with more design options if that’s a priority for you.

Buying Options

Why you might prefer it: Kohl’s percale The Big One Easy Care 275 Thread Count Sheet Set is crisper and more wrinkle resistant than the Heartland HomeGrown set and comes in a larger variety of patterns and prints than any set we tested (typically you have about 20 options to choose from). Like other percale sheets, the The Big One set has a dry hand (the opposite of a slippery or silky feeling). These sheets feel a little more textured than the sateen Heartland set; when lying on them, you’ll stay put rather than feeling like you’re sliding around. They’re not as crisp as 100 percent cotton percale (they don’t have that crinkly sound of fine hotel bedding), but in our tests they felt more comfortable than the costlier Wamsutta Cool Touch Percale and the Red Land sheets we tried for our full cotton sheets review. We also like that they have a long track record of positive owner reviews. And like Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s has frequent sales, so you should be able to get these sheets at a great price if you’re flexible on timing.

This set wrinkles less than our main pick, so it could be a good choice if you value smooth bedding over softness. Photo: Michael Hession

The Big One comes in many printed patterns, including this cat theme. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

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Where it falls short: The Big One set was much softer than any other cotton/polyester blended sheets we tested, but it wasn’t quite as soft or breathable as 100 percent cotton sets. And people who prefer a silkier texture should look elsewhere: Negative reviews note the roughness of the sheets (“They feel like sandpaper,” says one). Keep in mind, though, that it’s a common complaint about percale sheets. Some people just don’t like the texture of the weave.

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The research

Other twin XL sheets we like

Although our top picks are available in a wide variety of patterns and colors, we know that students might want even more choices to outfit their dorm room. Whether you’re looking to splurge on a luxe fabric or to find unique and quirky prints, the following are all sheets that we liked during testing but that fell short of our top picks in overall value.

Buying Options

Why we like it: Brooklinen’s Classic Core Sheet Set is perfect if you like subtle colors or minimalist prints such as stripes, matchsticks, or windowpane. Although these sheets are a splurge, their quality is worth it. Several Wirecutter staffers love these sheets. For two years I’ve been long-term testing Brooklinen’s duvet cover, which is made of the same material, and it has worn beautifully and withstood a decent amount of abuse. This set is also our only pick here that’s Oeko-Tex certified (which means the sheets should be free of substances that could irritate the skin).

Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Where it falls short: Because these are percale sheets, they’re a bit rougher than our sateen picks, but they feel softer and more substantial than the other, cheaper sets in this guide. We also noticed lots of wrinkles in these sheets, so grab them straight out of the dryer or learn to love the creases.

Buying Options

Why we like it: Bed Bath & Beyond’s 330-Thread-Count Cotton Sheet Set with Fitted Sheet Cell Phone Pocket is one of the softest and most affordable sets we’ve tried. The sateen fabric isn’t quite as soft as that of the solid-color Heartland HomeGrown sheets, but it still feels nice. And the side of the fitted sheet does indeed have a sewn-in pocket for a cell phone. It’s a novelty, but a useful one for students who may be in lofted beds or without side tables. This set’s online name is a little vague, so if you’re buying it in the store, look for the U Sheet Set. You can probably get an even better deal on it with Bed Bath & Beyond’s frequent coupons.

The fitted sheet in this Bed Bath & Beyond set has a built-in pocket to hold a phone. It may seem like a gimmick, but we think this touch could be helpful for students sleeping in lofted dorm beds. Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Where it falls short: We don’t typically recommend sheets that come in a combo twin/twin XL size (fit can be a problem), but these have an extra panel of elastic inside the fitted sheet corners that gives them additional stretch when needed, so we think they’ll work.

Buying Options

Why we like it: Macy’s Whim by Martha Stewart Collection Sheet Sets are the most charming, personality-packed option we tested. The twelve prints, which include cacti, llamas, and flamingos, will definitely make you smile. The Whim collection is a perennial at Macy’s, but the prints change, so if you see one you love, act now.

Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Where it falls short: The Whim sheets are the thinnest on this list, so they should be nice and cool, but we’ll be long-term testing to see if they withstand wear and tear. Negative owner reviews note that these sheets are wrinkly, but we found them to be just a bit rumpled out of the dryer, something we doubt most students would worry about. Life is short, and so is college.

Buying Options

Why we like it: We like Garnet Hill’s Polka-Dot Percale Sheet Sets because they’re bright, and the six color choices will go with anything. These well-constructed sheets are just as taut and densely woven as the similarly priced Brooklinen sheets, although they feel a bit rougher and wrinkle less. A good shake should be all you need to get them bed-ready.

Photo: Kyle Fitzgerald

Where it falls short: The aqua dot pattern we tested was slightly less saturated in person than it appeared in the photos, but it was still vibrant. Negative owner reviews claim that these sheets are too thin, but thin doesn’t necessarily mean bad; they’re about the same weight as the Brooklinen sheets. We’re long-term testing them to see if they wear well—but we think they’ll be fine.

Why you should trust us

We spoke with a half-dozen bedding experts for our cotton sheet guide, which also informed how we chose sets for this guide. We pored over reviews on Sleep Like The Dead and looked to customer ratings on the websites of Amazon, Costco, JCPenney, Target, Walmart, and many other retailers. We also considered reader comments on our main sheets guide to determine what people love and hate about sheet sets.

Who should get these

Many dorm rooms are furnished with twin extra-long beds, which are 5 inches longer than a traditional twin. Because of this difference, standard twin sheets won’t fit. Our sheet recommendations here are for people looking for comfortable and inexpensive twin XL sheets in a variety of colors and patterns.

How we picked and tested

We tried to find affordable twin XL sheets made from 100 percent cotton, which is more breathable than jersey, microfiber, or cotton/poly blends. It turned out not to be an easy task. Photo: Michael Hession

We looked for sheet sets that met the following criteria:

All cotton: We focused on high-quality sheets made from 100 percent cotton, which experts say provides the best balance between comfort and value. Because affordable cotton sheets are hard to find, we also tested some cotton/poly blends, which we prefer over the microfiber and jersey sets commonly marketed to college students.

Good color range: We wanted to find sets available in styles that would appeal to college students. Although solid colors work for nearly anyone (and are less likely to look dingy over time), we also considered some bold prints for people looking to jazz up their dorm rooms.

Under $100: Because these sheets aren’t a long-term investment, we limited our search to sets under $100, with most of our choices costing around $50. Most sets under $50 are made of jersey knit or microfiber, materials we don’t recommend.

To test our sets, we washed and dried each one, inspected the quality of the seams and elastic, and gauged their softness by rubbing the fabric against our cheeks and between our fingers.

At the time of our research, the SheetsNThings 300 Thread Count Extra Long Sheet Set on Amazon had some good colors, but the prices changed depending on the color, and almost all came from third-party sellers. We really just didn’t have a sense of their availability.